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Allison Lichter's avatar

Thank you for this! Such a clear portrait of a specific person, and a general type — “Doggedly passionate, self-isolated, and completely uninterested in the truth.”

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Josiemerck's avatar

I have known and watched him for over twenty years and what a sad descent of someone who could have continued his great environmental legal work. Many of his colleagues at the NATURAL (nb) RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL despair of his dangerous candidacy. Thanks for writing this piece.

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Bess Kalb's avatar

Sad, indeed! (Also: Whoops! Edited!)

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

My stepfather was a River Keeper. On the Clearwater, the whole deal. Just a few weeks ago, he said, “ask me sometime how RFK Jr screwed every single environmentalist up and down the Hudson river.”

I’m convinced that a lot of his fans see him as the same person you thought he would be 20 years ago. He’s not.

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Meredith Holmes's avatar

Thank you for writing this useful and enlightening piece. I remember (had an impression of) RFK as a star environmentalist, and was glad he was committing his fame and charisma to such an important cause. I was dumbfounded at the paranoid, irrational RFK that emerged in 2020. It seemed sudden, out of left field, like so much in the news. But, of course RFK, just like say, the rise of the extreme right, a divided electorate, and deteriorated infrastructure, has a history. Thanks for sharing a part of this history. And thanks for teaching your son to respect facts.

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EBraver's avatar

Excellent essay. RFK Jr. mirrors Trump in his lack of respect for knowledge and expertise. He’s an example of what Michelle Obama referred to as “the affirmative action of generational wealth.”

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bob yates's avatar

Despite the disclaimers, a darn fine yarn -- and cautionary tale. Your life has Memoir written all over it btw.

Too bad Bobby Jr. (I too am a Bobby Jr.) couldn't give us a "Curb" cameo as Cheryl Hines' real-life husband. Sleeves rolled up, bear cub carcass stinking up the EV trunk, going nose-to-nose with Larry over the latest Covid variant.

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dancerfrog's avatar

As the New Yorker cartoon caption says,"Let me interrupt your expertise with my confidence."

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Mark Neistat's avatar

Bobby Kennedy Jr. delivered a speech in my hometown about the environment (no mention of striped bass) during the same time period. His spoke with passion, uber-confidence, and enjoy. However, during the book signing afterwards, seated at a table, he was an insufferable prick: no contact, chatting with his aids, no handshakes, and refusal to engage in conversation - his word was final. And, that is exactly how he came off during his mis-guided and failed campaign.

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Robert Ogner's avatar

Wonderful post. Thank you!!!

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